STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1000-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2563

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2563, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the restoration of a continuous beach and associated infrastructure along the Waikiki waterfront, with the funds to be allocated for planning and design of the area between the Royal Hawaiian groin and the Fort DeRussy storm drain groin, including a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle path that allows public access and connects Kaimana Beach with Ala Moana Beach Park.

The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Blue Planet Foundation provided testimony in support of the measure.  The Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, and an individual provided comments on the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the multi-use pedestrian and bicycle path would connect Ala Moana Beach Park with Fort Ruger Park, not Kaimana Beach;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2563, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2563, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair